June 2022
24Jun

The Effects of the Minimum Pension Reform in a Defined Contribution Pension System: The Case of Chile

By Jorge Sabat Using longitudinal data on roughly 16,800 low-income workers, I estimate the effects of a reform that introduced a solidarity pillar on the Chilean defined contribution pension system. I specifically test for a negative effect on the propensity to save for retirement that would have arisen from the disincentives caused by the introduction of an implicit tax on pension savings, as predicted by a theoretical life-cycle model. Empirically, I document a negative and significant effect on the propensity...

June 24, 2022
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24Jun

New UK trial seeks to ‘nudge’ people into making greener pension choices

A new trial to encourage people to learn more about making greener pension choices in the UK has been launched. Dubbed the ‘Green Nudge’, the trial will test the impact of behavioural nudges and messages on increasing saver engagement with the sustainability of pension investments and how it could translate into greener pension decision-making. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is working in partnership with the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT), Aviva, Smart Pension and Hargreaves Lansdown to deliver the “nudges”...

June 24, 2022
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01Jun

UK. Providers urge earlier introduction of Pension Wise ‘nudge’

The Financial Conduct Authority’s new rules guiding customers to use Pension Wise before drawing down their pension, which came into force on June 1, have been criticised as “poorly timed and mismanaged” by one provider. Trustees and providers are now required to offer customers aged 55 and above, who are accessing their funds for the first time, an appointment with Pension Wise. The service offers free 45-minute sessions on savers’ retirement options. The FCA said that this “nudge” can be delivered...

June 1, 2022
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May 2022

Serenity Now, Save Later? Evidence on Retirement Savings Puzzles from a 401(K) Field Experiment
26May

Serenity Now, Save Later? Evidence on Retirement Savings Puzzles from a 401(K) Field Experiment

By Saurabh Bhargava & Lynn Conell-Price Economists have advanced several psychological frictions to explain why many 401(k)-eligible employees undersave for retirement despite generous matching incentives. We provide evidence on four of these frictions through a field experiment randomizing undersaving employees to information- and incentive-based treatments linked to a survey assessing each friction’s baseline incidence. We describe four main findings: (1) We corroborate prior work showing pervasive deficits in retirement literacy and their correlation with saving but reject any meaningful increase...

May 26, 2022
Articles, Pension design, Savings, ,
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09May

US. EBRI: Challenges Aside, Retirement Confidence Remains High

Despite the pandemic and inflation, American workers and retirees remain optimistic about living a comfortable retirement—and one key factor that has helped is having a workplace retirement savings plan. This is according to the 32nd annual Retirement Confidence Survey (RCS) measuring worker and retirement confidence conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and Greenwald Research. In fact, in 2022, 82% of workers who are offered a workplace retirement savings plan are satisfied with it—a finding that has remained steady...

May 9, 2022
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April 2022

Wealth After Work Innovative Reforms to Expand Retirement Security
11Apr

Wealth After Work Innovative Reforms to Expand Retirement Security

By William G. Gale, J. Mark Iwry, & David C. John Pensions and retirement saving plans have helped millions of households build financial security. But tens of millions of people have been left behind, without access to these wealth accumulation vehicles. For many others, the plans they have do not ensure financial security in retirement. The problems that underlie these failures can be addressed. This book proposes concrete, practical ways to make dependable retirement income accessible for all Americans—not just those...

April 11, 2022
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07Apr

Age-friendly cities and communities: A global perspective

By Tine Buffel, Sophie Handler & Chris Phillipson New book Age-Friendly Cities and Communities: A Global Perspective, Policy Press Tine Buffel, Sophie Handler and Chris Phillipson (Editors) Bringing together leading researchers and policy-makers working to develop age-friendly cities and communities, this edited volume examines the potential of developing urban environments responsive to the needs of older people. The book provides numerous case studies and examples of good practice, drawing upon work in Australia, Europe, Hong Kong, and the USA. It...

April 7, 2022
Aging, Books, Innovation, , ,
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US. Saving for Retirement Is Harder Than It Should Be
05Apr

US. Saving for Retirement Is Harder Than It Should Be

The U.S. government has long offered myriad contrivances and enticements to get Americans to save enough for a comfortable retirement — so far with woefully inadequate results. But why should it be involved at all? Why can’t people be responsible enough to prepare for an entirely foreseeable event? There are two answers. First, people turn out to be pretty bad at thinking about the distant future: It seems our brains aren’t wired for it. Second, compounding that problem, the financial...

April 5, 2022
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US. Saving for retirement is the top financial priority for just 17% of adults, survey shows
01Apr

US. Saving for retirement is the top financial priority for just 17% of adults, survey shows

Saving for retirement appears to be taking a backseat to other financial considerations for many Americans right now. Just 17% have made saving for their post-working years their top financial priority for 2022, according to First National Bank of Omaha’s latest financial wellness survey. This is despite 59% of respondents worrying that they won’t be able to retire by age 65. Additionally, 46% of those surveyed said they have less than $15,000 saved for retirement. The survey was conducted in February...

April 1, 2022
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March 2022

Ireland. State to pay €1 for every €3 a worker puts into new auto-enrolment pension scheme
31Mar

Ireland. State to pay €1 for every €3 a worker puts into new auto-enrolment pension scheme

About 750,000 workers who do not currently have a pension will be enrolled in a new workplace pension scheme from January 2024, it has been announced. The Cabinet has agreed its long-awaited auto-enrolment pension scheme, which will cost the taxpayer €3 billion in its first year. Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has said this pension scheme will operate in addition to the State pension and will kick in at retirement age which is currently 66. The State will pay €1 for...

March 31, 2022
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